Chapter Two-The date

Earlier the same day...

"Do you ever get the feeling we're being watched?" He realized how cliché it sounded once he had said it. Even so his stern expression remained. He received a deep sigh from across the table.

"Can we just enjoy the date?" Starfire's green gaze dropped down as she fidgeted with her napkin. Robin cleared his throat and sat back in his seat attempting to look like he was relaxing.

"Sorry Star. I'll try." He pulled at his collar and tried to ignore the stares from onlookers. He hadn't thought this plan out very well as it was difficult to be conspicuous out in public. His attention was drawn back to Starfire as she waved at a little girl who had caught her eye. He couldn't help but smile, thankful the attention didn't bother her but knew next time they would definitely dress down. This was their first date. Once the Titans returned from Tokyo, they all hit the ground running. Three months flew by making little time for their relationship to go much further. His decision to take an evening off came that morning when he ran into her in the hall on his way to the lab. He had initially noticed that she appeared to be almost glowing and there was a pleasant smell as she entered the hallway even though she was never one to wear perfume. Maybe she was just trying something different.

"Greetings Robin. Do you have plans today?" Her question caught him off guard.

"Is today special?" He figured it was some Tameranean holiday he wasn't aware of yet.

"Today is the day of my birth." She smiled almost shyly and he couldn't help staring at her.

"Oh, I had no idea. Happy Birthday." He found himself smiling back at her. "I guess I should be asking if you have any plans today?"

"I believe I shall go to the mall of shopping. I am hoping Raven will go with me." It was highly unlikely but he decided not to say anything to her. They parted ways and Robin made it several feet before turning back to her.

"Hey Starfire?" She stopped and glanced back at him. His heart fluttered in his chest bringing back what he felt in Japan so many months earlier.

"Yes?" He almost forgot what he wanted to ask her.

"Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?"

"You mean like the date?" Robin nervously rubbed the back of his neck, his expression wavering.

"Um well, yes. A date." She squealed in response and flew over hugging him around the neck.

"Oh most definitely!"

He had told himself that the other Titans could handle any issues that came up while the two of them were out but his mind didn't seem to get the message. Earlier in the evening, he thought he noticed at least two individuals following them. Once they made it to the restaurant, he observed someone in the shadows nearby but when he glanced over no one was there.

As the food arrived he pushed the feeling to the back of his mind. Glancing across the table, he noticed that Starfire was eating surprisingly neat. He smiled, reminded of her dinner habits when he visited her home. Clearly she was really trying not to embarrass him. She noticed him staring and looked away quickly, feeling self conscious. Her skin started turning a deeper shade of orange which Robin had never seen before.

"Are you okay? How's your dinner?" He asked attempting to start conversation.

"I am well. This dinner is very good, and yours?" He nodded back. It was clear that he was obviously out of his element but Star didn't mind the odd conversation. They had put this off long enough and if this was what she had to go through in order for them to get to the next level in their relationship she was fine with it. Although she would never admit it but for the past couple of weeks it was all she thought about. She just wasn't sure how to initiate anything. She found that even though they had been friends for so long Robin was usually hard to read. Any time the idea even came up he would become unsure and always found a way to change the subject. That or the city would conveniently get attacked at that moment. She had been so pleased this morning when he had asked her to dinner and then admitted it was a date too. "So what is customary to do after dinner?"

"Um, you mean tonight?"

"Yes. Do we get to hold hands or perhaps go to a movie and not pay attention to it? I hear some earth girls offer coffee but I am not sure why one would want to drink such a beverage so late in the evening." He almost laughed at her normal inquiries but he also realized that she was referring to them which made him have to think of an actual answer.

"Well what do you want to do? Doesn't' really matter what anyone else thinks we should do." He leaned forward on the table realizing that he was over thinking too much and really just needed to enjoy the time away with her. She absentmindedly played with her hair and glanced downwards.

"I am not sure what is appropriate." That explanation caused his heart to race and the room felt hotter then a minute ago. What was appropriate for them? This was just a first date after all. Of course he also realized that this wasn't like dating any normal girl, it was Starfire. There were soo many questions that came to mind that he wasn't even sure where to begin. He sucked in a deep breath, making an effort to not think too hard and hoped she wasn't paying that much attention to him. Even with a mask on she was always good at knowing when he was uncomfortable. Pulling on his collar some he cleared his throat.

"Do you have any idea what they do on dates on Tamaran?" He could only hope that question didn't open up an even more awkward conversation. One thing was for sure, he knew he wouldn't understand most of it. As he did his best to listen, he realized it was now raining outside. Hopefully that would mean the rest of the evening would be quiet in the city. Unfortunately not even the rain could keep trouble away.